In the face of Isaac Asimov's inquiry, although Huo Yaowen repeatedly said that if he wants to completely realize the technology of the "virtual world", it will take not a hundred years but the seventies and eighties, and it will definitely not be completed before 2000.

But this science fiction master seems to have a very high confidence in the development of science and technology in his country, and firmly believes that in the latest two decades, there will be a qualitative breakthrough in virtual reality technology.

Even if Huo Yaowen knows the memories of the next few decades, but seeing that Isaac Asimov is so resolute, he doesn't want to argue too much with the other party, after all, no one can predict the future if it is not God, even if he and Asimov fight here to the death, it is just a "conjecture" between the two.

Isaac Asimov suddenly said: "Since Mr. Evan insists that virtual reality technology will not succeed in twenty years, why don't we make a bet?"

"Bet?" Huo Yaowen was stunned.

Isaac Asimov nodded: "That's right. Mark is here today, and this year is 1970, and we bet that around 1990, as long as virtual reality technology succeeds, whether it is developed in the United States or not, I win. If it doesn't happen, then even Mr. Evan, you win. How?"

Mark stood aside, spread his hands, shrugged his shoulders and said, "Oh my God, I don't want to be a part of your bet, but I'd love to be a witness." ”

Huo Yaowen looked at the confident Asimov, thought for a few seconds, and did not agree directly, but asked with a smile: "Then Mr. Asimov, what is our bet?"

Isaac Asimov mused: "The bet is that the losing side publishes the news of its loss in the newspapers." ”

"No problem, this year, twenty years later, we'll see if virtual reality technology is realized. Huo Yaowen smiled and agreed.

Isaac Asimov made a bet on this a lot, and in the '60s, he bet with many American and world-renowned science fiction writers, or some friends, that technology would develop to that point.

One of the most well-known bets in the science fiction world was that in 1967, he and Arthur Charles Clarke, one of the three giants of British science fiction, bet at the World Science Fiction Convention that the world would invent and popularize personal communication devices with video and voice functions in the next few decades.

Not many people know about this bet now, but it wasn't until 2008, when Android phones were born and the world began to implement 3G networks, which could make video calls and voice functions, that Arthur Charles Clarke published his last article with The Times on his deathbed, titled "Congratulations to Mr. Asimov, you won the bet." 》

As early as 40 years ago, Isaac Asimov, one of the world's three giants of science fiction, predicted that "smart phones" would be popularized all over the world.

It's just a pity that Isaac Asimov died as early as 1992 and never saw the birth of a smartphone for the rest of his life.

...

The bet was settled in the midst of the joke, and by the way, Mark was the witness.

The three of them chatted casually again, and Isaac Asimov left early, and Mark also said that the publishing company had been busy promoting Huo Yaowen's new book recently, and he needed to rush back early.

However, before leaving, Mark said good news, that is, the first manuscript fee will be paid to Huo Yaowen's account with HSBC in the United States, and he will be notified to find a lawyer or professional as soon as possible to avoid taxes.

It's not the first time Huo Yaowen has done this, thinking that after returning to Hong Kong, he will find Luo Cheng's law firm to help him avoid taxes reasonably.

Mark and the others left on the front foot, and when Huo Yaowen was about to go upstairs to rest for a while, he met Bruce Lee who came to him at the elevator entrance.

Bruce Lee asked, "Mr. Huo, it's Li Tiezhu's game in the afternoon, do you want to go and have a look?"

"Okay, just look at how powerful this Mr. Li's arms can be. Huo Yaowen smiled and agreed.

...

In the afternoon, Los Angeles Stadium.

bought a few burgers and Cokes at a nearby burger restaurant, Huo Yaowen and Bruce Lee walked in with the insider's sign, and when they arrived at the audience, there were already many players playing under the stage.

Although it was only a tryout, there were still a lot of people who came to see it, but maybe it wasn't because of Sunday, the number of people was much smaller than yesterday, and more than a dozen cameras were filming the whole process of these contestants.

"Desk 027, Lee and Wiesner!"

With the announcement in the stadium, Li Tiezhu and his opponent, a boxer from France, Wiesner, were walking from the rest area in the back to the No. 27 ring.

Looking at the two who had just stepped into the ring not far away, Huo Yaowen looked at Bruce Lee beside him and asked, "Who do you think Li Tiezhu and that Wiesna are more powerful than?"

"I've studied Wiesner, he's a real boxer, he's won the French Championship in France, and even though it's just an amateur fight, it shows that Wiesner is a good boxer. ”

"But Li Tiezhu is not bad, although he doesn't know boxing, and he hasn't fought in any professional ring, but his fists are very hard, the strength is very strong, in the absence of boxing rules, the competition between the two is who can take the lead in defeating the opponent, boxing routines I told Li Tiezhu, nothing more than pace and dodge, it depends on whether he can play it out. ”

Huo Yaowen smiled and said, "Bruce, you seem to have deviated from my question. ”

Bruce Lee said seriously: "I think Li Tiezhu's advantage is a little bigger in terms of comprehensive strength, but it still depends on how well he plays on the spot." ”

Before Huo Yaowen could ask anything more, he saw that on the soft mat under the stage, Li Tiezhu and Wiesner made a ceremonial move under the guidance of the referee, and the game officially began.

...

Not far from the ring, two Jade TV reporters and photographers from Hong Kong were filming the match between Li Tiezhu and Wiesner.

Hong Kong already has the practice of martial arts, and there are many private martial arts gyms, so since the World Mixed Martial Arts Championship began to be promoted at the beginning of this year, the executives of Jade Channel have cooperated with ABC TV in the United States as early as possible and obtained the broadcast rights in Hong Kong, and Li's TV station, which is also Hong Kong TV, has also obtained the broadcast rights.

"Zhang Wei, look fast, is that Mr. Huo!" reporter Song Jie tugged on the arm of photographer Zhang Wei and motioned him to look in the direction of the audience.

"Seems so. "The distance is a bit far, Zhang Wei can't see it very clearly.

Song Jie looked at it until his eyes were sore and swollen, then he rubbed his eyes and said affirmatively: "That's Mr. Huo!"

"So what? People just came to see the game. Zhang Wei didn't know what to say.

"You've been here for so many days, haven't you read American newspapers?"

Song Jie glanced at Zhang Wei with disdain, and said: "Recently, the Yankees' newspapers are all related to the big sales of Mr. Huo's new book, I thought I would send the news back to Hong Kong today, but I didn't expect to be lucky enough to meet me today." ”

Song Jie came to the United States many days earlier than Huo Yaowen, so he naturally saw the news in the newspaper about the big sale of Huo Yaowen's "Virtual Second World".

"Don't move here, take a video of Li Tiezhu's game, I'll go over and see if I can interview Mr. Huo!"

With that, Song Jie turned around and walked towards the audience.

...